HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS AND THE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

Human immunodeficiency virus is a devastating disease that ends in dea th, The fear that it engenders in healthworkers and patients may be ou t of proportion to the risks involved but an emotional response to the dangers is understandable, However, a careful study of the risks, the adoption of high standards of practice, and control of the clinical e nvironment probably can eliminate most of the risk, There is a clear c onflict of interest between the maintenance of confidentiality for the infected person and the right to information of those with whom they come into contact, Mandatory clinical testing for human immunodeficien cy virus is likely to become the most contentious medicolegal issue of the next decade.